Songs of 1960s

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered and expanded edition of the legendary album Songs of Love & Praise, recorded by the UK band Nirvana in 1971.
Originally issued on the Philips label in 1972, Songs of Love & Praise was the second album to be issued under the Nirvana name to feature writer, vocalist & producer Patrick Campbell Lyons in sole charge of a recording project, following the amicable departure of writing partner Alex Spyropoulos some months before, following a trio of innovative Nirvana albums for Island Records & Pye Records and a UK hit single in the song ‘Rainbow Chaser’.

In 1972, Mike and Lal Waterson released an extraordinary album of their original songs, Bright Phoebus. This magical collection of very English songwriting has long been acknowledged a classic and one of the finest achievements of the British folk revival. Shining Bright was conceived to pay tribute to Mike & Lal's remarkable songs, and it draws upon the songs recorded for Bright Phoebus, and on a further dozen songs written at the same time but not previously recorded. Features 15 tracks performed by Norma Waterson, Dayteller, Maddy Prior, Richard Thompson, Eliza Carthy, Blue Murder, Dick Gaughan, Linda & Teddy Thompson, Helen Watson, Billy Bragg & The Blokes, Martin Carthy, Christine Collister & others.

Revered band Son Volt pay homage to the legendary Doug Sahm on the new album Day Of The Doug. Son Volt founder Jay Farrar’s goal with this 12-song collection was not only to pay tribute to Sahm’s music and influence, but to also highlight some of the deeper tracks in his heralded canon, specifically from a prolific period during the late 1960s through the 1970s. It’s a celebration of a songwriter and performer whose work forged country, Tex-Mex, rock, rhythm and blues, folk, and psychedelia into an utterly unique American sound.

Revered band Son Volt pay homage to the legendary Doug Sahm on the new album Day Of The Doug. Son Volt founder Jay Farrar’s goal with this 12-song collection was not only to pay tribute to Sahm’s music and influence, but to also highlight some of the deeper tracks in his heralded canon, specifically from a prolific period during the late 1960s through the 1970s. It’s a celebration of a songwriter and performer whose work forged country, Tex-Mex, rock, rhythm and blues, folk, and psychedelia into an utterly unique American sound.

In the 1960s, many of the songs of the author duo Lennon - McCartney was first performed by other artists, especially if they are produced by Brian Epstein. It helped launch the career of new artists. Sami Beatles also recorded their own versions of these songs. And although in the end they did not go on singles, some of these songs became a part of a series of a compilation album of recent years - such as Live at the BBC and The Beatles Anthology.

Greenwich Village legend gets deserved superstar tribute. Eric Andersen is a song writing legend who hit the floor running with his early albums as part of the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960s. He could folk with the best of them, but when he launched off with his own voice – well, ‘Thirsty Boots‘, ‘Violets of Dawn‘ more than pointed the way for those in his audience who would go on themselves to be major artists. And later recordings would unveil classics like ‘Time Run Like A Freight Train‘, ‘Salt on your Skin‘ and ‘Before Everything Changed‘. An artist perhaps most associated with the poetry and expression of love – and passionate love at that – Eric Andersen certainly doesn’t shy away from the topical or the political, being as bluntly harsh as a Dylan when he choses to be. It’s no wonder, then, that such a catalogue of great and notable names have taken part in this expansive – it covers three CDs – release which, as the title suggest, pays a tribute to a songwriter who, frankly, deserves such a tribute. Eric Andersen is not forgotten – he’s still recording and playing live after all – but one listen to this collection and one can only wonder why he isn’t even better known.

An East L.A. band from the 1960s, Thee Midniters are a bit of a well-kept secret. Led by the soulful vocals of Willie Garcia, the guitar playing of George Dominguez, and the ferocious drumming of George Salazar and Danny LaMont – and featuring horns, timbales, and congas – Thee Midniters were solidly professional, and essentially set the template for later pop horn bands like Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago, although almost any musical form was in play for this band, including British Invasion, R&B, salsa, gospel, and straight-out soul.